Hewitt’s Swansong

With Lleyton Hewitt’s 20th and final Australian Open only days away, no one is giving him a chance to go far, but do not be so sure.

The draw was always going to be vital if Hewitt was to go far and the with draw being announced this morning, do not be surprised if the final of the Australian Open 2016 is between Hewitt and his old foe and good mate Roger Federer.

If the previous few Australian Opens is anything to go by, then it is highly likely that all of Hewitt’s matches will be night time matches on Rod Laver Arena, so expect Hewitt to do what he does best, that is, fight for every single point without fuss and push his opponents to their limits.

First Round

James Duckworth will be Hewitt’s first opponent, but while punters have their money on Hewitt, this could be a tricky encounter for the veteran. It is never easy for Hewitt when playing his fellow countryman, especially with him being the Davis Cup captain, but Hewitt should be able to get through this match unscathed.

Second Round

David Ferrer will most likely await Hewitt in this round and Ferrer will definitely be the favourite. However, this matchup will suit Hewitt to a tee as they are both fighters and very similar in styles. Ferrer will not have the power to hit him out of the court. Long tiresome rallies will be the order of the day, but if you have watched Hewitt for the past 20 years, you will know that long rallies are no stranger to him. This will be a thoroughly entertaining match with both players chasing after every ball, but if Hewitt keeps his unforced errors to a minimum, he should be in with a huge chance.

Third Round

A relatively easier opponent could await in the form Steve Johnson. Johnon has a big serve and big ground strokes, but accuracy has never been his strength. He has also never passed the third round of a grand slam. If Hewitt does what he does best and just keeps the ball in play, Johnson could make enough unforced errors to lose the match. Hewitt incidentally leads their head to head by one win to none.

Fourth Round

If Hewitt makes it into the second week of the tournament, either Isner or Lopez will most likely await. If Lopez progresses, then Hewitt will have a hard time coping with his all round game. Having said that, Lopez tends to slip up during different stages of matches, so Hewitt will definitely have chances. Hewitt has never lost to Lopez in Australia.

Isner will be a more favourable match up for Hewitt as he loves versing tall players with big serves. Hewitt is still regarded as one of the best returners of the game and one of his other strengths is keeping the ball low. He has beaten the likes of Ivo Karlovic and Del Potro by forcing them to get down too low for their liking and Isner should be no exception.

Quarter Finals

If Hewitt does make it that far, the number one Brutish player and world number two Andy Murray will most likely be his opponent. If it does get to that stage, Murray would be odds on favourite and anyone tipping Hewitt would be thought of as SOMETHING. One thing that Murray lacks compared to others in the top 10 is a second serve with good purchase. . He tends to have a second serve where good returners of the game would lick their lips at and Hewitt is definitely one of them. Murray’s height would also give Hewitt a chance to utilise his signature shot, the topspin lob. If he can pounce on Murray’s second serve and wind back the years, do not count Hewitt out. The last time these two played was at an exhibition match back in early last year where Hewitt prevailed in two tight and tough tiebreaks and if that match is anything to go by, spectators on Rod Laver Arena will be given a night to remember.

Semi Finals

If every match goes to plan, Hewitt would face 2014 Australian Open winner, Stan Wawrinka, who he has two wins over. There is no doubt that this is a winnable match for the South Australian as Wawrinka has struggled against Hewitt in the past. Wawrinka’s backhand down the line is arguably his biggest strength, but Hewitt has an uncanny knack of drawing unforced errors from his opponents. A win against Wawrinka could set up a final against Roger Federer if he overcomes Novak Djokovic.

We all know that a lot has to go right for Hewitt to make the final, but a final against Federer would be a very fitting way to cap off a very remarkable career. Be ready for fist pumps. Be ready for C’mons. Be ready to see Hewitt finish his career the only way he knows how, that is, by fighting to the death.

Related Articles

tennis

Why can’t Australia’s junior tennis champions make it big?

March 5, 2018

Australia’s summer of tennis is officially over and like many before, it was a summer which bared little success for the home country’s heroes. While the emergence of Alex De Minaur, the continued success of Dylan Alcott and a Fed Cup tie win are cause for mild celebration, Australia bombed out of the Davis Cup […]

What Has Happened To Bernard Tomic?

February 12, 2018

Benard Tomic was once considered the next superstar in Australian tennis after Lleyton Hewitt, however, that doesn’t appear to be happening anytime soon. Early in the young man’s career, Tomic shot up in popularity, winning games, climbing the ranks and representing Australia in the 2012 Olympic games. Although everything has spiraled downwards since then, with […]

2018 Australian F1 Grand Prix – The Good, Bad & Ugly

April 10, 2018

The 2018 F1 season got underway with Sebastian Vettel securing a somewhat fortuitous victory in Sunday’s Australian F1 Grand Prix. After Lewis Hamilton took pole the day before, and looked extremely comfortable in the early part of the race, it looked as if only the winning margin was going to be the question that needed […]

Solving Australia’s Wicketkeeping Conundrum

October 30, 2017

With the Ashes just three weeks away, the race for Australia’s wicketkeeping position is still wide open. Victorian Matthew Wade is far from a certainty to retain his place in the side for the opening game against England on November 23 after a poor series in India that saw him lose the gloves to fellow […]

Matt Campbell – An Australian Motorsport Name for the Future, and for now.

September 11, 2017

Lost in amongst Lewis Hamilton’s record breaking pole and subsequent easy win, another Daniel Ricciardo charge from the back of the grid, and the usual excitement of the F2 races was another win in the Porsche Supercup for Australian Matt Campbell. Some may remember the 22 year old from Warwick in Queensland from his dominant […]